Trump administration makes another appeal to the Supreme Court to allow mail ballot restrictions

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration on Sunday renewed its appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge blocked new restrictions on mail ballots ahead of the midterms.

Key points

• District Court Judge Indira Talwani extended an order against the Postal Service enforcing President Donald Trump's executive order for the November elections.
• The legal wrangling comes even as states start sending out mail ballots, leaving the administration little time to create sizeable changes in mail ballot rules.
• Once those ballot envelopes enter the mailstream, there is no retrieving them.

For context, the filing came after U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani extended an order against the Postal Service enforcing President Donald Trump's executive order for the November elections.

Notably, the legal wrangling comes even as states start sending out mail ballots, leaving the administration little time to create sizeable changes in mail ballot rules.

"Ballots have already begun to be mailed in North Carolina, and more States will begin the mailing process as the injunction remains in place – including Alabama on September 9 and at least five States the week of September 13, " Solicitor General John Sauer remarked in the filing.

"Once those ballot envelopes enter the mailstream, there is no retrieving them. And while the injunction allows the Postal Service and the States to continue taking steps to ensure that their envelopes satisfy the Rule's requirements. Each day the injunction is in place risks sowing confusion and chaos since the injunction makes those preparatory steps voluntary, rather than mandatory."

Taken together, the developments around trump administration makes another appeal to the Supreme Court to allow mail point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.